Photo Gallery: Faces of India

Young Boy, Kolkata (Calcutta)

Photograph by Satyaki Basu, My Shot

The ethnic groups of India are as varied as the landscapes of the sweeping Asian subcontinent—Bengalis, Punjabis, Gujaratis, Nagas, Sora, and others add up to nearly 1.2 billion people, making India the world's second most populous country. Pictured here: A young boy dressed as the Hindu deity Lord Krishna

Musician

Photograph by Jason Florio, Aurora Photos

A band member returns home by train after performing at a wedding.

Man, Jodhpur

Photograph by Nam Prasad Satsangi, My Shot

With neatly wound turban and beard and mustache carefully swept back, a man keeps his cool in Jodhpur, the second largest city in Rajasthan state.

Children, Pushkar

Photograph by Annette Thompson, My Shot

Dressed as the Hindu deity Shiva and his consort, Parvati, children beg for money from tourists in Pushkar.

Man, Kolkata

Photograph by Peter Velter, My Shot

It's estimated that there are more than 2,000 ethnic groups in India. It's also a country of many religions. More than 80 percent of Indians are Hindu.

Sikhs

Photograph by Charles Meacham, My Shot

In 2008, Sikhs across India celebrated 300 years of the guruship of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. This holy book is treated as a living guru.

Woman, Rajasthan

Photograph by Lou Souza, My Shot

A brightly veiled woman visits the Karni Mata temple in Bikaner, Rajasthan. The Hindu temple is famous for the thousands of rats that live there, dining on sweets, grain, and milk called laddu.

Young Man, Rajasthan

Photograph by Simon Lister, My Shot

Green cloth draws out the piercing eyes of a young man from Rajasthan, the largest state in India.

Man, Kolkata

Photograph by Peter Velter, My Shot

Modern accessories add flash to a traditional street scene in Kolkata, capital of the state of West Bengal.

Woman, New Delhi

Photograph by Saswata Bhattacharya, My Shot

A street vendor's colored glass bangles frame her face. The Indian capital, New Delhi is one of nine districts that make up the metropolis of Delhi.

Soldiers

Photograph by Tim Robertson, My Shot

A military parade celebrates Republic Day, the January 26 anniversary of India's adoption of its constitution.

Chithirai Festival

Photograph by Arun Kumar, My Shot

A celebrant gets into the spirit at the Chithirai festival in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The days-long festival celebrates the wedding of Lord Shiva and the goddess Meenakshi (Lord Vishnu's sister).

Child, Gokarn

Photograph by Neven Grujic, My Shot

A child joins the crowd at the Shivratri festival in Gokarn, a village in Karnataka state. Festivalgoers leave offerings for the Hindu deity Lord Shiva.

Rajasthan Orphanage

Photograph by Paul Kline, My Shot

Two women clean the kitchen of a Rajasthan orphanage after the lunch meal.

Beggars, Mumbai

Photograph by Steve McCurry

Half of Mumbai's 12 million inhabitants live in shantytowns, and many of them—like this mother and child—survive by begging.

Woman

Photograph by Neha Parmar, My Shot

Desert sands stretch out beyond a woman in colorful traditional dress and jewelry.

Girl, Pushkar

Photograph by Ron Johns

A street musician's daughter rests in Pushkar, one of the oldest cities in Rajasthan state and India itself.

Men, Pushkar

Photograph by Neven Grujic, My Shot

Friends share a stoop in Pushkar during the annual mela, or fair. Originally a camel trading event, the mela has grown to include cultural events and even a camel beauty pageant.